EEA Europe’s Biodiversity, Alpine.

European Environment Agency

Europe’s biodiversity – biogeographical regions and seas

Biogeographical regions in Europe

The Alpine region – mountains of Europe

Original contributions from ETC/NPB:

Sophie Condé, Dominique Richard (coordinators) Nathalie Liamine (editor) Anne-Sophie Leclère (data collection and processing) Barbara Sotolargo (drafting) Ulla Pinborg (final co-editor) Map production:

UNEP/GRID Warsaw (final production) Project manager: Tor-Björn Larsson, EEA ZooBoTech HB, Sweden, Linus Svensson (final edition)

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EEA Europe’s Biodiversity, Alpine.

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Summary ............................................................................................................ 5 1. What are the main characteristics and trends of the Alpine biogeographical region? ............................................................................................................... 5 1.1 General characteristics.............................................................................. 5 1.2 States and trends in habitats and ecosystems in the Alpine biogeographic region ............................................................................................................. 9 1.3 States and trends in selected species groups in the Alpine biogeographic region ........................................................................................................... 11 1.3.1 Birds.................................................................................................. 11 1.3.2 Butterflies .......................................................................................... 11 1.3.3 Large herbivores ................................................................................. 12 1.3.4 Carnivores.......................................................................................... 12 2. The Alps........................................................................................................ 14 2.1 What are the general characteristics of the Alps ..................................... 14 2.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 14 2.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 14 2.1.3 Soils .................................................................................................. 14 2.1.4 Human presence ................................................................................. 14 2.2 Present biodiversity status and trends: habitats, fauna and flora ........... 15 2.2.1 Habitats ............................................................................................. 15 2.2.1.1 Mountain forests............................................................................... 15 2.2.1.2 Alpine grasslands.............................................................................. 16 2.2.1.3 Nival and rock vegetation................................................................... 17 2.2.1.4 Inland waters ................................................................................... 17 2.2.1.5 Flora ............................................................................................... 17 2.2.1.6 Fauna ............................................................................................. 18 2.3 Main pressures on biodiversity................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Human population ............................................................................... 19 2.3.2 Agriculture ......................................................................................... 19 2.3.3 Tourism ............................................................................................. 20 2.3.4 Skiing and sporting activities................................................................. 21 2.3.5 Fragmentation of habitats ..................................................................... 21 2.3.6 Climate change ................................................................................... 22 2.4 Biodiversity policy initiatives .................................................................. 22 2.4.1 The alpine convention .......................................................................... 22 2.4.2 Protected and unprotected areas ........................................................... 22 2.4.3 Information, research and monitoring programmes .................................. 24 3. The Scandes ................................................................................................. 24 3.1 What are the general characteristics of the Scandes............................... 24 3.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 24 3.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 24 3.1.3 Human presence ................................................................................. 25 3.2 Biodiversity, habitats, flora and fauna..................................................... 25 3.2.1 Habitats ............................................................................................. 25 3.2.1.1 Mountain forests............................................................................... 25 3.2.1.2 Streams, lakes and glaciers................................................................ 26 3.2.1.3 The alpine belt ................................................................................. 26 3.2.2 Species diversity ................................................................................. 27 3.3 Human influence and the use of biodiversity........................................... 28 3.3.1 Economic use of species ....................................................................... 28 3.3.1.1 Reindeer hunting .............................................................................. 28 3.3.2 Human pressures on biodiversity ........................................................... 28 3.3.2.1 Grazing ........................................................................................... 28

EEA Europe’s Biodiversity, Alpine.

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3.3.2.2 Hydroelectric power plants ................................................................. 28 3.3.2.3 Tourism........................................................................................... 29 3.3.2.4 Infrastructure development ................................................................ 29 3.4 Biodiversity policy initiatives .................................................................. 29 3.4.1 Protected areas ................................................................................... 29 3.4.2 Internationally designated areas ............................................................ 29 4. The Pyrenees ................................................................................................ 29 4.1 What are the general characteristics of the Pyrenees ............................. 29 4.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 29 4.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 30 4.1.3 History of human presence ................................................................... 30 4.2 Present biodiversity status and trends .................................................... 30 4.2.1 Habitats richness and trends ................................................................. 30 4.2.1.1 The montane belt ............................................................................. 30 4.2.1.2 The sub-alpine belt ........................................................................... 31 4.2.1.3 Alpine and nival belts ........................................................................ 31 4.2.1.4 Caves and karst fissures: many subterranean habitats ........................... 32 4.2.1.5 Rivers and lakes ............................................................................... 32 4.2.2 Flora richness and trends...................................................................... 32 4.2.3 Fauna richness and trends .................................................................... 32 4.3 Human influences and biodiversity.......................................................... 33 4.3.1 Economic use of species biodiversity ...................................................... 33 4.3.1.1 Domestic breeds............................................................................... 33 4.3.2 Main pressure on biodiversity ................................................................ 33 4.3.2.1 Hunting ........................................................................................... 33 4.3.2.2 Deforestation ................................................................................... 34 4.3.2.3 Agro-pastoralism in decline ................................................................ 34 4.3.2.4 Tourism and road networks ................................................................ 34 4.4 Biodiversity policy initiatives .................................................................. 34 4.4.1 National parks..................................................................................... 34 5. The Carpathians............................................................................................ 35 5.1 What are the general characteristics of the Carpathians ......................... 35 5.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 35 5.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 35 5.1.3 Soils .................................................................................................. 35 5.1.4 Human influences ................................................................................ 35 5.2 Present biodiversity status and trends .................................................... 36 5.2.1 Habitats ............................................................................................. 36 5.2.1.1 Forests............................................................................................ 36 5.2.1.2 Vegetation above the timberline.......................................................... 36 5.2.1.3 Peat bogs ........................................................................................ 37 5.2.1.4 Rivers and lakes ............................................................................... 37 5.2.2. Flora and fauna, richness and trends ..................................................... 38 5.2.2.1 Flora ............................................................................................... 38 5.2.2.2 Fauna ............................................................................................. 38 5.3 Main pressures on biodiversity................................................................ 38 5.3.1 Economic use of species ....................................................................... 38 5.3.1.1 Domestic animals at the edge of extinction........................................... 39 5.3.2 Land-use trends .................................................................................. 39 5.3.3 Climatic, physical and chemical pressures ............................................... 39 5.3.4 Biological pressures ............................................................................. 39 5.4 What policies are at work in the Carpathians .......................................... 40 6. The Rhodopes ............................................................................................... 41 6.1 What are the general characteristics of the Rhodopes ............................ 41

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6.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 41 6.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 41 6.1.3 Altitude .............................................................................................. 41 6.1.4 Human influences ................................................................................ 41 6.2 Present biodiversity status and trends .................................................... 41 6.2.1 Flora.................................................................................................. 41 6.2.2 Fauna ................................................................................................ 42 6.3 Main pressures on biodiversity................................................................ 42 6.3.1 Deforestation ...................................................................................... 42 6.4 What policies are at work in the Rhodopes ............................................. 42 7. The Urals ...................................................................................................... 42 7.1 What are the general characteristics of the Urals.................................... 42 7.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 42 7.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 43 7.1.3 Human presence ................................................................................. 43 7.2 Present biodiversity status: habitats, fauna and flora ............................. 43 7.2.1 Habitats ............................................................................................. 43 7.2.2 Flora.................................................................................................. 43 7.2.3 Fauna ................................................................................................ 44 7.3 Main pressures on biodiversity................................................................ 44 7.3.1 Forestry ............................................................................................. 44 7.3.2 Radioactive pollution ............................................................................ 44 7.4 What policies are at work in the Urals..................................................... 45 7.4.1 Protected areas ................................................................................... 45 8. The Caucasian alps ....................................................................................... 45 8.1 What are the general characteristics of the Caucasian alps..................... 45 8.1.1 Profile ................................................................................................ 45 8.1.2 Climate .............................................................................................. 46 8.1.3 Human presence ................................................................................. 46 8.2 Present biodiversity status: habitats, species and genes, fauna and flora ..................................................................................................................... 46 8.2.1 Habitats ............................................................................................. 46 8.2.2 Species and genes ............................................................................... 46 8.2.3 Mammals ........................................................................................... 47 8.2.4 Birds.................................................................................................. 48 8.2.5 Reptiles and amphibians ....................................................................... 48 8.2.6 Plants ................................................................................................ 48 8.3 Main pressures on biodiversity................................................................ 48 5 Bibliography .................................................................................................. 49

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Summary •

Mountains areas are vulnerable ecosystems, characterised by low productivity, slow response rates and isolation.

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The Alpine biogeograhic region exhibits an extreme fauna and flora and a high level of endemism.

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Human impact such as tourism, transportation, traffic-caused fragmentation of biotopes, land-use change and also atmospheric pollution are strongly affecting many mountain areas with generally negative effects on biodiversity.

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Climate change continues to alter the distribution of species and will affect the species composition in most, if not all, mountain ecosystems. Lowland species are expected to move upwards in altitude. Highland species may become extinct, as no high grounds will be available for escape.

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The global importance and also the ‘pleasure values’ of mountainous ecosystems for people are being recognised in more and more international and European political fora. Also the number of regional initiatives formulated for the protection and the sustainable development of Europe’s mountains is increasing.

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In certain European mountain ranges several large herbivores and carnivores are making a comeback as a result of habitat protection and re-introduction initiatives.

1. What are the main characteristics and trends of the Alpine biogeographical region? 1.1 General characteristics Ranges of mountains from the Mediterranean to western Siberia constitute the alpine biogeographic region. It includes some of the oldest and most recent mountains of the world; the Alps, the Scandes, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, the Rhodopes, the Urals, the Caucasia and the Dinaric Alps.

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EEA Europe’s Biodiversity, Alpine. Table 1. Statistics for the Alpine biogeographical region.

Surface area 2

(km ) 780 000

Number of countries in region

National composition by area

Population (inhabitants/km2)

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Norway 17 %

Sweden 19

European Russian Federation 15 %

Finland 15

Sweden 12 %

Norway 11 Russian Federation 9

Austria 6 % Italy 6 % Romania 6 % Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 % France 4 % Georgia 5 % Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, FYR of Macedonia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia